Coolant drips from edge of plastic intake manifold

[doeyh]

I have seen this very early. It happened even before 10,000 miles on it.

I thought it is rain water staying long time so it looks red because of errosion.

I have been driving this car for 5 years, and it hits 90,000 miles recently and it runs great. and I have kept adding dex-cool in my car.

I thank this great forum and people advising. I fixed several problems such as secondary air pump malfunctions, door hinge bushing upon help of this forum.

My questions is.

I changed radiator cap to slant cap upon advice of many people here recently.
After that, amount of dripping coolant is obviously less than before.
Do I still have to replace upper and lower intake manifold gasket?
If I have to do, attacking power steering pully looks not clear on many messages. some recommend renting special tool for it.
Please, give me advices, I appreciate it.
Is it quite doable job?

[muddog321]

Yes, you have to change the lower intake, the upper is the injection and the gaskets come in the set but its easy. As to the power steering pump, I have never pulled that yet - I remove the main bracket bolts and loosen the rear nuts and the whole thing, bracket and pump, will slide (with alittle force) up enough to remove that front drivers side intake bolt.

[doeyh]

I already detached air intake, and trying to detach wiring and other parts.
After doing many clips, 2 things look difficult.

1. Big wiring is in the way, this is going from firewall to fuse box.
Do I leave that as it is, or is there any way to handle it?

2. 2 steel pipes are attached and it looks impossible to detach without bending them.

Experts' advices will be appreciated.

[dmbrisket 51]

you carefully take the 2 nuts off the plastic intake, then with a magnet, remove the center link between the 2, with a pair of 16mm wrenches, (one pipe, one open box) you remove the 2 lines back by the firewall, this will let those steel lines come out, make sure you keep track of the o rings on the small ends, there is a cap screw that needs loosend in the back (10mm i beleve) to let the hanger slide out... that wiring needs disconnected at the bottum of the fuse block, you need like a dental pick, and find the hidden retainers, and pop them loose then the wiring will peel back for you no problem... best of luck to ya, let us know the outcome, a lot of people wind up at a shop because this became to much of a task for them, it is major engin work

[doeyh]

I really apreciate your advice, dmbrisket51.
I saw your names in many places of this forum.
This forum is helpful and active because of devoted contributions of people like you. I have oldsmobile alero, but, alero forum is nothing but dead.

I am sorry to say but, I gave up.
I borrowed pressure tester and tested.
Upper plastic intake leak is not major thing. Leaks are all over the places.
I may have to decide whether I shoud go to garage to fix it or keep on adding coolant to death, or trade in this vehicle to get new car.

I an going to return unopen gasket.

FELPRO package (10 components) $38.99
Torque wrench $29.99
Deepwell sockets $12.99
Inspecting mirror $3.99
Magnetic pickup $2.59
Renting Pressure Tester $0.00
Working under hood and sweating .............. priceless

[tractorboy]

make sure it is the gasket that is leaking and not something else... see my post in the malibu section. I thought my lower intake gasket was leaking it was the temp sending unit,,, see the link for the picture.

I do not think it was corrosion that was red, you use dexcool ? that coolant is red.

[doeyh]

Thank you for advices.
I will attack this thing again next month after my wife goes abroad.
I will post pictures whenever I need your adivce.

[muddog321]

Don't put off replacing that lower intake too long cause I bet Dex cool is also leaking into the valley on the lifters as a spray so if you hear lifter noise on startup with clean oil and filter thats why. You risk trashing the engine.

Its easier to remove the fuel rail at the firewall if you take the dist out first (cover hole so nothing drops in) and make sure you get the 2 o-rings and 2 metal washers from each line out of the injector assembly so you can put it back together later - they cost about $35 for the set of 8 pieces at the dealer!